Page 35 of Your Pace or Mine
“What do you mean?”
Jamie ran a hand through his hair. “It’s like, when you want someone to like you, you can’t just go in all direct-like, asking them what they want from you. You have to be more subtle, look for the clues and then give them what they want before they ask for it.”
“That’s veryHow to Win Friends and Influence Peopleof you.”
“Yeah, well. It’s worked out pretty well for me in theatre, don’t see why it wouldn’t apply for you as well.”
“That how you find work, then? Trick people into liking you?” Darius asked. There was a judgmental tone in his voice that Jamie didn’t love, but he ignored it.
“Look, I hear other things work too. You know, like nepotism.”
Darius snorted. “Okay, so, if you’re the expert. What do I do about Anders?”
“Well, you need to disprove his misconceptions about you, and kind of find little ways to give him what he wants.”
“You saw the article, Anders thinks I’m homophobic.”
Jamie wasn’t sure what to say; Darius probably didn’t need to hear how that misconception was pretty widely shared. “That’s— I’m sorry.”
“And I know the obvious solution is to come out. It’s not even, I’m not against it. Like everyone who matters knows, but how would I even do that without a cringe announcement, or it feeling contrived. Plus, it would be a media shitstorm, but—“
“Why?”
“I’m going to suggest you Google me if you want that info,” Darius snarked.
An idea was forming in Jamie’s head… this could, they could help each other out here. “What if you were dating someone?”
“I’m not, though.”
“I know, but stay with me here, what if?” Jamie mused. “What if you were just photographed with your boyfriend a few times, maybe strategically run into Anders when you’re on a date, or better, at a charity event or something? At the very least, you’d show the rest of the selection committee he’s wrong.”
Darius was quiet for a minute. “That sounds less horrible. But there is one problem, Jamie. I don’t have a boyfriend to do those things with.”
“I mean me, it could be me.”
“Are you asking me out?” Darius asked incredulously.
Jamie stuttered for a moment. He almost said yes… almost. “I mean, like, we pretend. Just for a few months.”
There was no response from Darius, and Jamie prepared to launch his case.
Then.
“What’s in it for you?”
Other than getting to spend more time with the man who had featured in all of his fantasies for weeks now? Well, actually. “There’s an event, beginning of April. I need a date for it.”
“Okay,” Darius replied.
“Wait, really?”
“Worth a shot, isn’t it? My sister’s always telling me to try new things, and I’ve never had a fake relationship before. So, how do we do this?”
Jamie baulked. “I, I might need to get back to you on that one.”
He could hear the teasing tone in Darius’s voice as he replied. “Of course, I eagerly await your guidance.”
Jamie hadn’t expected Darius to agree. It had been a spontaneous thought. But this really could help him. A bit of publicity could give him the career boost he needed, and hereally didn’t want to show up to the Oliviers alone, not with Stephen up for an award and certain to be in attendance with his perfect little fiancée. Actually, this was a great idea.
